Classical South Florida Enters Fort Myers

Update 2/15: Classical South Florida paid $4.35 Million for WAYJ, while Way Media will acquire WSRX for $1.5 Million.

Original Report 2/14: American Public Media’s Classical South Florida enters a third market as it acquires 88.7 WAYJ Fort Meyers, FL from Way Media.

In turn Way Media has purchased “89.5 Praise-FM” WSRX Naples from Family Christian Broadcasting and will move its “Way-FM” programming to that frequency and its translator 100.5 W263BI, which is currently in the process of upgrading from 1 watt to 250 watts.

Classical South Florida currently airs on 89.7 WKCP Miami and 90.7 WPBI West Palm Beach.

The Press Release follows:
WAY Media, Inc. today announced that Classical South Florida (CSF), a nonprofit listener-supported public radio organization dedicated to broadcasting classical music, has agreed to acquire the assets of WAYJ 88.7FM in Fort Myers, Florida. In turn, Way Media has agreed to acquire the assets of WSRX 89.5FM in Naples, Florida, from Family Christian Broadcast Network. The WAY-FM programming currently heard on WAYJ will remain present on Fort Myers airwaves by moving up the dial to 89.5FM.

â€œWAY-FM started in Fort Myers back in 1987,â€ said Bob Augsburg, founder and president of WAY Media. â€œSouthwest Florida is still very strategic for us, and weâ€™re simply moving a short way up the dial. Most listeners will hear us on 89.5FM, while those in Charlotte County will be able to tune us in at 100.5FM. Weâ€™re excited about this switch, which will allow WAY Media to launch a suite of new digital initiativesâ€

â€œWeâ€™re tremendously excited to have the opportunity to bring classical music back to the Southwest Florida airwaves,â€ said CSF president and general manager Douglas C. Evans. â€œClassical South Florida was launched in Southeast Florida in the fall of 2007, and its programming can now be heard from the upper Keys to the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast. Soon our programming will reach Southwest Florida as well, from Fort Myers to Naples and Marco Island.â€

The acquisitions require approval by the Federal Communications Commission, and program changes likely will not take place before spring. Eddie Esserman of Media Services Group was the exclusive broker for this transaction, representing WAY Media. He may be reached at 912.634.6575.

For media inquiries, contact Lloyd Parker with WAY Media, or Jason Hughes with Classical South Florida.

About Classical South Florida
Classical South Florida is a nonprofit 501(c)3 public radio organization dedicated to broadcasting classical music. Its program schedule includes broadcasts of nationally renowned classical programs such as Performance TodayÂ®, SymphonyCastÂ® and PipedreamsÂ®. Classical South Florida began operating in October 2007 via WKCP 89.7 FM in Miami and later expanded its service to WPBI 90.7 in West Palm Beach. Classical South Florida is a listener-supported organization affiliated with American Public Media Group. For more information, visit http://www.classicalsouthflorida.org.

About WAY Media, Inc.
Listener-supported WAY Media, Inc., including WAY-FM and WAY Media Network Services, airs on over 100 radio stations in 26 states. Markets served include: Denver, CO; Nashville, TN; West Palm Beach, FL; Louisville, KY; and Portland, OR. For more information, visit http://www.wayfm.com.

Lance Venta is the Owner and Publisher of RadioInsight.com and a consultant for RadioBB Networks specializing in integration of radio and the internet. Lance has two decades of experience tracking the audio industry and its use of digital platforms.